Day 17: Matthew 13:1-35 | 2026 Lenten Reading Plan

Thank you for joining us for the sixteenth reading in our Lenten Reading Plan. Find all the resources you need below: Read Matthew 13:1-35 on Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A1-35&version=ESV Listen to Matthew 13:1-35: https://share.transistor.fm/s/8bd9f6fd Download your own Lenten Reading Plan Bookmark: https://higherthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/HT_Lenten-Reading-Plan-Bookmark-2601-PRINT-at-home.pdf Download the 2026 Lenten Reading Plan Study Guide: https://higherthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HT_Lenten-Reading-Plan-Study-Guide-2511.pdf We start with the parable of the sower, which contains the secret to understanding all parables. Jesus tells his disciples that the secrets of the kingdom of heaven are given to them, but not to those who try to justify themselves by the law. This is the key: parables contain secrets to the kingdom of heaven, and nobody gets there by works of the law, but only by what Christ has done for you. So the secret to all parables is to find Jesus. If you only find yourself and what you're supposed to do, but don't find Jesus, you're doing it wrong. Look for where the parable is weird, where things don't work like they normally do, and that's where you'll find Jesus. The parable of the sower isn't "be good soil or else." You can't avoid the devil (even Jesus couldn't). Everyone has cares in this world because God cares enough about this world to enter it, bleed, die, and redeem it. What we learn is that Jesus is a terrible farmer. He sows seed recklessly where it shouldn't prosper: on the path, in thorns. God doesn't find good people to give faith to; he gives it where it shouldn't work. He makes the dying live. He conquers death by dying. In all parables, look for the gospel: the death and resurrection of Jesus saving sinners. Parables are given for meditation, so we can find comfort, not just know secrets. Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology. #higherthings #lcms #lutheran #lent If you have questions or topics that you'd like discussed on Higher Things, email them to content@higherthings.org Subscribe to our channel to get notifications when we go live: http://youtube.com/@HTgospel4all To support the work of Higher Things®, visit https://higherthings.org/morehi/giving/ For more information about Higher Things, go to http://higherthings.org ------ Join the conversation on Social Media: http://facebook.com/higherthings http://instagram.com/higherthings https://www.tiktok.com/@higherthings